How did kindness thwart the bombing of a US mosque?

On Thursday 20 April at 19:30 GMT:
In 2009, Richard “Mac” McKinney was an American veteran who struggled with PTSD after touring in Iraq and Afghanistan. Once forced back into civilian life in Muncie, Indiana, McKinney’s anger against Muslims—Islamophobic ideas shaped by his time in the military—took a new and dangerous turn.

He wanted to bomb a local mosque.

McKinney’s story is told in the short documentary “Stranger at the Gate”, which was nominated for an Oscar this year. Intent on gathering information about local Muslims at the Muncie Islamic Center, McKinney is welcomed into their community with compassion and kindness. In time, he decides not to carry out his bombing, converts to Islam and eventually becomes president of the Islamic Center.

“Stranger at the Gate” director Josh Seftel says the movie will eventually pass overcome hatred and find common ground with others. It is a much-needed message for an increasingly polarized world.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to the people from ‘Stranger at the Gate’.

In this episode of The Stream we speak with:
Bibi Bahrami
President, Muncie Islamic Center

Mac McKinney
Life coach and public speaker

Joshua Seftel, @JSeftel
Director, “Stranger at the Gate”